First International HFY Instructor Certification review

[BennyMeng]

Over 30 experienced martial artists from Brazil, Ireland, Holland, and seven states of the U.S. came together for the First International HFY Instructor Certification in San Francisco for four days.

It was a marathon workshop that included lectures, hands-on training, organizational discussions, question and answer sessions, and a celebration for the completion of the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kung Fu Handbook, vol. 1 for Instructors and level 1-3 Practitioners in the system. The training included regular, full-day sessions (from 10 AM to 10PM) and two special sessions that were considered traditional training - starting at 3 AM. Most of Grand Master Gee's training in HFY occurred in the early hours of the day and he continues this tradition for his instructor candidates.

The key themes behind the instructor workshop were:
1) the traditional, system approach as compared to the Saan Sau approach
2) training instructors from the historical point of view and
3) training instructors on the philosophical point of view of the system to understand the differences between training by technique and training by principle.

Traditional system vs. Saan Sau
The HFY system is passed on through the Hou Chyun San Sau (Oral Teaching, Body Receives) method, which gives a teacher a lot of flexibility to meet the student where they are at. Most often, teaching begins with Saan Sau - loose techniques - focused on application. As an instructor, to pass on the system to a new generation and preserve the system, he or she must understand and teach through the system approach. The key to the system approach is understanding proper boundaries and the teaching of kung fu culture.

History:
The HFY lineage comes from the military traditions of the Ming generals combined with the Shaolin warrior monks, passed down to the revolutionary (anti-Qing) leaders in Boxer Societies. The HFY lineage comes from "Hung Gan" Biu (Red Bandana Biu), a leader in the Boxer Societies. Grand Master Gee expressed the principles, concepts, techniques and training methods to actual, ancient battlefield experience with weapons such as the King of the Battlefield, the Spear. For HFY, there is a direct relationship between the Spear and the empty-hand combat. The traditions and military heritage of HFY are not reflected in the lineages of Wing Chun descended from Wong Wa Bou/Leung Yi Dai. According to lineages descending from Wong Wa Bou/Leung Yi Dai, the staff was added after the system was created. This story is counter to the HFY mindset and training which includes exercises and attitudes directly related to weapons even at the beginning stages of the system. The HFY approach requires that students understand weapon combat in order to full relate to the concepts and principles of the system. This was some of the historical background covered in order for the participants to understand and appreciate the system approach in the HFY system.

Philosophy:
For HFY, the philosophy is based on recognizing structures in space rather than thinking about defense and offense with a certain number of techniques. The mindset relies on the reality of Time/Space/Energy - the laws of Time/Space/Energy are not based on the experience of the Grand Master or the preference of individual martial artists. The laws of HFY are based on the physics of the universe, things that the humans cannot change. The HFY system is not about doing what you like or don't like. As an analogy, the only way to make a plane fly is to base the designed on the laws of physics rather than the way the plane looks. HFY, as a system, begins at this level - which is called the Principle Level. Typically, martial arts focus on techniques and build attributes around it with a set of concepts to govern it. Participants went through the workshop with an understanding of the two mindsets - technique vs. principle.

Technical training included the Baai Jong Baat Bo Jin training and exercises, Daan Sau Paak Kiu, and Checkpoint Paak Sau.

Personally, I would like to say thank you to Grand Master Gee for his knowledge, expertise and generosity to share the treasure of the Hung Fa Yi system. I would also like to thank the San Francisco Disciples for hosting such an historical, memorable event – Allen, Matt, William, Ricky, and Alex.

[Marcelo-RJ]

Sifu Meng,

In addition to your words about the seminar, I'd like to highlight the C'han teachings on "learning how to die" that Sigung Gee passed onto us in Chinatown, thus approaching another aspect of the HFYWCK system during our staying in San Francisco.

This workshop was indeed very ellucidative. GM Gee has shown beyond doubt how unique the HFY system is: in spite of "Tan, Bon, Fuk", both the history and the phylosophy of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun attest its identity and legitimates its fighting efficiency.

I'd like to express my deepest thankfulness to Sigung Gee, who blessed me with his wisdom and the opportunity to attend the workshop and the traditional 3 AM training, and to all of the attendees, as all of them were patient enough to share their energy and knowledge with me.

Thank you, Sisouk Allen and Ricky, for kindly taking me and Paula for a wonderful tour and the 2nd cheapiest meal in my trip. Thank you, James, for preventing us to get lost in our 1st night in SF. Thank you, Gary, for your explanations and for (unwilling) letting me know that I need to learn "Irish English". Thank you, Tony, for saving me from having Paula complaining in my ears that I did not dedicate my entire time with her. Thank you, Sifu Meng, for your attention, your explanations and for the excellent meals in Chinatown and the Korean restaurant. To sum it up: thank you all, my family and friends, for your hospitality and will of sharing.

Until next time,


Marcelo, Rio de Janeiro
http://hungfayi.com.br

[Cang Long]

Each worshop expereince gets better and better.
This workshop was indeed very ellucidative. GM Gee has shown beyond doubt how unique the HFY system is: in spite of "Tan, Bon, Fuk", both the history and the phylosophy of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun attest its identity and legitimates its fighting efficiency.
Personally I continue to be amazed at the depth simplicity and beauty of Hung Fa Yi. Studying only the portion of Bai Jong Baat Bo Jin that I have been exposed to so far under the Byun Jyun Grand Master Gee was a priviledge and an Honor. There are no words to express my gratitude for providing for me and all those in attendance this wonderful opportunity to bond with the fore bearers of this wonderful system (after the workshop I now better understand HFY history and origins through experience) in a way undescribable and yet also unforgettable and illuminating.

The connection to those that have practiced learned and passed on this wonderful science can only be completely understood by experiencing it first hand. The ability to identify with comprehend and understand the knowledge and history of all that incompasses HFY can only fully be understood by someone practicing the science. There are no shortcuts but the rewards are endless.

I would like to take this time to Thank Grand Master Gee for his tireless efforts in not only sharing his knowledge of Hung Fa Yi but his family art, his knowledge of Chinese history and culture, his life experiences, his knowledge of kung fu etiquette and culture and his desire to help others succeed as well. He is a Gentleman first and foremost and he exemplifies what an excellent combination of martial arts and Yi can instill in a person willing to commit to something that incorporates an understanding of self yet never losing sight of the global community we are all members of.

Again, Thank you Grand Master Garrett Gee For all your tireless efforts in not only making us better martial artist but better persons as well. We owe you a debt of gratitude we may never be able to repay so the best we can hope to do is follow your example and give of ouselves as you give of yourself and truly energize our belief in the idea of "In All Directions, There is One Family." Thank you.


Sincerely,

[JamesHFYofAZ]

From my point of view;
After all the seminars that I've had the privilege to obtain wisdom from this particular one will hold the heaviest weight in my mind. The past seminars were held with saun sau in mind. I felt like I was getting great material that was not only applicable but way more advanced from all my previous training. Along with this information, we were given principles and concepts to help guide us on our journey into understanding the deeper side of hung fa yi.
This seminar was designed to assist in our learning from many different angles, most have already been described but I say it again. One was to give instructors a systematic approach to learning/teaching the HFYWCK to the next generation by way of a student manual that is only understood through Hou chuen saun sau. This in itself was a historical event, because never in the past has HFY ever been documented in a format of this nature, yet it still abides the true nature of learning via HCSS from the Grandmaster himself! Another main point is the history of HFY and it directly relating to battlefield weapons, how the concepts relate directly back to Southern Shoalin warriors who used and trained these weapons. Take Bai Jong Baat Bo Jin, it directly relates to the concept of the spire. Through out all of this, we were reminded of the Buddhist principles in nature and how they too are implied in our training from the beginning for instance, saam mo kiu.
Another point that kept repeating in my mind was that GM Gee is doing this to make absolute that all schools and clubs train with the same format, this is to insure we all speak the same language and so that their is no room for personal influence of what any One person thinks. This also being a good reason way this instructors manual is taught though traditional HCSS method by GM Gee. Along the same line this HCSS method will also allow the instructors to gain a deeper understanding of KF culture. This past seminar contained a lot of surface material but even more sub material. This truly was a season of learning in the SMK progression of development awareness of the system or "the greater picture" as it were.
I would like to personally thank GM Gee for the deliverance of this
past seminar including all the time spent putting HFY into such a systematic format. Thanks to all that had an assisting hand in putting the manual together, editing, pictures... It was a great surprise and is one for the records. Thanks to all that attended this event and to those I was able to partner with. Or to give directions to with the best of my abilities.;) Thank god for cell phones!
:D